Vending-machine



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet I.

J. A. WILLIAMS. VENDING MAGHINE No. 498,832. Patented June 6, 1893.

JOHN A W/L L IA MS,

(NoModeL) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

J. A. WILLIAMS.

VENDING. MAGHINE. No. 498,832. Patented June 6, 1893.

V Vfines-sess JOHN A. WILLIAMS,

9 g i fizz/6717367;

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN A. \VILLIAMS, OF BATH BEACH, ASSIGNOR TO THE ADAMS & SONS COMPANY, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

VENDING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION fo1-mingpart of Letters Patent No. 498,832, dated June 6, 1893.

Application filed January 21, 1893. Serial No. 459,177. (No model.)

To ctZZv whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN A. WILLIAMS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bath Beach, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vending-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to vending machines, and consists in various features, details and combinations, as hereinafter set forth and claimed. v

In the drawings-Figure lis a perspective View, partly in section,of the complete ma chine; Fig. 2, a vertical sectional view, from front to rear; Fig. 3, a horizontal sectional view on the line x-cc of Fig. 2; Fig. 4, a sectional perspective view of the operative mechanism, removed from the box or casing; Fig. 5, a perspective view of the coin-holding parts detached; Fig. 6, a top plan view of the operative mechanism, with the supporting plate removed, showing four sets of coin-controlled devices arranged in the different positions occupied by the parts in operating the ma chines; Fig. 7, a perspective view of the drawer; Figs. 8 and 9, vertical sectional views from front to rear; and Fig. 10, a vertical cross sectional view on the line 0cm of Fig. 8, showing the manner in which the coin is supported.

A indicates a box or casing in which the operating mechanism is mounted,said mechanism dividing the said box into two separate compartments A and A ,-the upper one A being designed to receive the articles to be sold, while the lower one, A receives the coins which have been employed to operate the machine. Compartment A is provided with a door A which may rest at its lower end upon theupper edge of the transparent plate A extending across the machine as usual. This door is not provided with any hinges but has a tongue A along one of its vertical edges to fit into a corresponding groove A in one of the side pieces of the box; and is also provided with a lock, r the bolt 3 of which engages a socket formed in that side of the box opposite the side that is grooved, all as shown in Fig. 3. By these means the door is held securely in place without the use of hinges,.which disfigure the box besides inwhich engages the frame oftho operative mechanism as shown. in Fig.2.

B indicates aplate or frame which has on its upper face a series of bars or ways C grooved on'opposing faces as shown in Figs. 1 and 4t and extending parallel to one another from front to rear. The rear portions of the ways, or those portions in rear of the (1001' A are raised or elevated as at C to form partitions or division walls to separatethe different piles of packages. Just in advance of the door A the three intermediate ways or guides are cutaway as at C Figs. 2, 4, 8 and 9, so as to present an unobstructed passage way or channel extending across the machine from side to side. Immediately in rear of this channel, but in advance of the raised portions of the ways, there is a bar D which extends from side to side, see Figs. 1, 2 and 4, said bar having its upper face recessed to afford a seat for the transparent observation plate A; while its rear under face is beveled to insure the entrance thereunder of the packages to be used.

At the rear end of the raised portions C, there is a second transverse bar F which is used in the present instance to support the chutes Gcarrying the packages to be sold, each of saidphutes having on rearface alug or projectionE which resting upon the bar, keeps the chutes in their proper position. These chutesG are open at theirupper and lower ends, and also at the front, preferably from top to bottom.

As shown in Fig. 1, the upper ends of the chutes are flared out or extended laterally so as to bear against each other, thereby maintaining them in proper position.

II indicates the drawers, which, in the present instance, are also the actuating slides of the machines; said drawers having their front ends normally flush with the front of the machine. These drawers will. preferably be made of a single casting and comprise merely a plate having wings on its edges to enter the grooves in the sides of the ways or guides'C.

The drawer is provided with two raised portions I and J of the same height, separated by an intermediate depressed portion K, as clearly shown in Figs. 1, 2, 4, 7, 8 and 9, said intermediate portion being a little wider from front to rear than the packages to be sold. When the machine is at rest, the rear portion J is beneath and supports the pile of packages. When the drawer is pushed inward, this raised portion is carried from beneath and to the rear of the pile of packages, and the intermediate depressed portion K brought beneath the pile. When it is brought into this position, the lowermost package falls into the depressed portion of the drawer. At the instant that the depressed portion K passes beneath the pile as just described, the forward raised portion I passes partially beneath the cross-bar D and closes the opening thereunder, thereby effectually preventing the insertion of wires into the opening through which the drawer moves or slides. Each drawer or slide is provided with a coin-slot a, which, when the machine is at rest, registers with a similar slot 1) formed in the plate B, the arrangement being such that wires, cord-s, &c.,inserted into such openings willbe sheared or cut off by the inward movement of the drawer or slide. It will also benoticed that as soon as the slide or drawer is moved inward the coin slot b in the plate will be covered or protected by the solid portion of the slide. It will also be noticed upon reference to Figs. 1, at, 7, 8 and 9, that the intermediate portion K of the drawer or slide is recessed or countersunk around the coin slot, as at n to receive the dust and dirt that may lodge upon that part of the drawer; said countersunk portion being a little smaller than the size of the packages to be sold, so as to prevent the latter from falling down into such countersink. By having these countersinks or depressions, the dust is prevented from interfering with the proper seating of the packages upon the drawer when the latter is pushed inward.

For many reasons it is particularly desirable to so construct these machines that it will be necessary for the operator to push the drawer or slide all the Way in before he can begin to withdraw it, and to withdraw or return to its normal position before he can push it in again. To attain this result, I secure to the slide or drawer a notched plate or rack c which projects down through a slot d in the plate or frame B, and is designed to be engaged by a pawl or dog 6, as clearly shownin Fig. 5, said dog being pivoted to the under side of the plate as shown. The instant that the drawer is pushed inward, the nose of the pawl will be brought into engagement with the rack and rocked slightly upon its pivot. So long as the inward movement of the drawer is continued, the pawl will ride freely over the teeth; but should it be attempted to return the drawer or pull it outward before the proper time, the pawl will lock the drawer against such movement outward. At the outer or forward end of the rack is a deep notch f, which, when the drawer has been pushed inward the requisite distance, comes opposite the nose of the pawl, and which upon reversing the direction of movement of the drawer, affords room for the pawl to reverse its position, that is, incline toward the front of the machine. When it has assumed this position, it will of course ride freely over the teeth of the rack and will present no opposition to the outward movement of the drawer. It will be observed,however, that when the pawl is in the position occupied by the third mechanism in Fig. 6, the drawer cannot be pulled outward, nor can the drawer be pushed inward again, after it has begun its outward movement, until said outward movement is completed.

In order to move the drawer as described, it is necessary to insert into and through the openings at and r b a coin or other token of a predetermined size or value, which shall automatically release the devices that hold the drawer against movement. These devices are clearly shown in Figs. 4, 5, 6, 8 and 9, and will now be particularly described.

Secured to the slide or drawer on its under side, is a block L to which is secured, or on which is formed, the rack or rack bar 0, hereinbefore mentioned. For convenience in manufacture, I prefer that this arm or block L be made L-shaped as shown, and arranged with its longer arm to work within the slot d in the plate or frame, while its shorter arm, extending transversely, works beneath the said plate. I do not, however, wish to limit myself to this exact construction, as it is obvious that the rack or rack bar may be separate from the block, and attached to the drawer independently of the arm. By making the block L of the particular form shown, the screws 9 used for attaching the rack bar, may also be employed for attaching the block. Block L is provided at about its center, on its rear face with a pin or stud h, whose end is about on line with the front Walls of the coin slots to, b. In the longer arm of the block L is a vertical groove 2', which is in line with said coin-slots.

M indicates an arm, pivoted at its rear or inner end to the under side of plate B, and having at or near its forward end a shoulder j, which is normally behind and in line with the right hand end of block L, as shown, and which prevents, normally, any inward movement of said block or the drawer to which it is secured. On the under side of the arm M is a projection or plate 7a which projects beyond the side of the arm, and which has its projecting edge beveled or inclined, as shown. This plate or projection is is directly opposite the groove 2', and in connection with said groove holds or supports the coin after it has passed down through the slots a, b.

The operation of this mechanism is as follows: A coin is inserted through the slots-a b, which are normally in alignment, and falls ICC onto the knife edge projection or plate 76 the opposite side or edge of the coin being embraced by and held in the slot t in block L, as indicated by mechanism No. 1 in Fig. 6,the pin or stud h resting againstthe front face of the coin. Now if the drawer or slide be pushed inward, the coin held by the slot and pin 7t of the block L, will be carried along the beveled or inclined edge of plate 75 and will force the pivoted arm M laterally away from or out of the path of the block L as shown in mechanism No. 2. Continuing the inward movement of the drawer, the coin will be carried clear of the plate or projection it, when, being unsupported on that side, the coin will fall intothe receptacle in the bottom of the box. During this inward movement of the drawer, the pawl e engages the rack c and prevents the coiled spring N from returning the drawer until the latter has been carried inward far enough to allow a package to drop into the depressed portion K of the drawer. The parts are represented in this position in mechanism No. 4, Fig. 6the pawl being shown in the act of reversing its position so as not to interfere with the outward movement of the drawer. By pulling the drawer outward, or allowing the spring N to return the drawer to its normal position, the package which fell into the recessed part K of the drawer, will be found to be in position to be reached by the operator. The arm M which swings laterally at its front end, bears against the right hand end of block L, as shown, and is held normally in that position by means of a coiled spring 0 which is secured at one end to the arm and at the other end to the frame or plate. When the block L is moved to the rear, as shown, in mechanism No. 4, some means are necessary to prevent the arm M from swinging too far toward the block; such means in the present instance being merely a pin or stud Z secured to the frame or plate as shown in Fig. 6.

The coiled spring Nto which I have before referred, is secured at its forward end to the main frame or plate, and at its rear end to a pin or stud m secured to the slide or drawer and projecting down through slot d. This pin or stud m, by striking the rear end wall of the slot d, limits the inward movement of the drawer or slide.

It will be noticed upon reference to Fig. 10 that the plate carried by the arm or lever M, is adjustable toward and from the slotiin the block L, in order to adapt the machine to coins having different diameters. While I prefer to make this plate separate from the arm, this is not essential.

Various slight modifications may be made in thedetails of the machine, but as a general rule it will be found advisable to follow the exact construction herein shown and described, both on account of the simplicity and ease in manufacturing the various parts, and also because of the efficiency of the machine represented.

or inclined so that when the drawer begins its forward movement beneath the pile of packages to be sold, it will themore readily enter beneath said pile.

A feature of great importance in the present machine resides in the fact that the strain in operating the machine is taken almost entirely by the plate or frame B. It will also be observed that there are but few working parts which receive any wear or strain, and these are made of drop steel forgings. It will also be observed that the entire operative mechanism of the machine and the feed chutes are supported entirely upon the plate orframe B, and hence no parts will be thrown out of adjustment by the shrinking or swelling of the wood which forms the box or casing of the machine. This difficulty has seriously interfered with the perfect operation of many of this class of machines, owing -to the fact that the machines are placed in exposed positions and subject to variations in the weather.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. In a vending machine, a series of chutes G arranged side by side, and having their upper ends flared laterally to mutually support each other, all substantially as shown and described.

2. In combination with a main frame and a chute mounted therein, a reciprocating drawer or slide H having raised portions I and J of equal height and an intermediate depressed portion K,- said raised portion J being normally beneath the chute and adapted to support the packages.

3. In a vending machine, the drawer or slide H havinga depressed portion K to receive the packages, and provided also with the coin slot a, and with a countersunk portion n around said coin slot, said countersunk portion being of less size than the package to be sold, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

at. In a vending machine, a plate or frame B provided with a series of parallel ways or guides O, the intermediate ways or guides of the series being cut away at C to form an unobstructed passage or channel transversely across the machine.

5. In a vending machine, the combination with a frame or plate '13 having the parallel ways or guides 0, cut away at C of the drawers or slides II having a depressed portion K to normally register with the cut away portions of the ways.

6. In a vending machine, the combination with a frame or plate, of a slide or drawer provided with a block to support the coin at one edge transversely to the line of movement of the slide; .and a laterally-swinging arm normally in the path of the block and supporting the opposite edge of the coin, substan .tially as shown and described.

.7. In a vending machine, the combination with a frame orplate, of a slide or drawer provided witha block to support the coin at one edge transversely to the line of movement of the slide; and a laterally swinging arm normally in the path of the block and provided with a plate 70 having an inclined edge to sup.- port the opposite edge of the coin, substan-l tially as shown and described.

8. In a vending machine, the combination,

with a frame or plate B having a transverse coin slot Zn-and the longitudinal slot d; of a slide or drawer H having a transverse slot at;

a block secured to the slide below the plate and supporting the coin at one edge; and a laterally swinging arm secured to the under side of the plate normally in the path of the block and adapted to support the coin at one edge.

9. In a vending machine, the combination with a frameor plate, of a slide or drawer pro vided with an ;L-shaped block to support the coin transversely to the drawer or slide, and a laterally-swinging arm normally in the path of the laterally-extending portion of the block,

and adapted to support the coin and to be moved laterally by the latter.

10. In avending machine, thecombination withatrame or plate, of a reci procating-d rawer or slide provided with ablock adapted to hold or snpportoneedge of the c0'in,,,a laterallyswingiing arm normally in the path of the block and adapted to support the opposite edge of the coin, and a pin .or stud hlcarr ied by the block and adapted to bear nponithe front face of thecoin.

11. In a vending machine, thecombination with the plate or frame B, and the-drawer or slide H provided with a block Let the laterally swinging arm M arranged in the path .of the block, a stud Z to limit the inward movement of the arm, and a spring 0 tending to move the varm inward.

12. In a vending machine, the means'herein described for supporting the1c0in,comprising a block L, having a groove t' to embrace one edge of the coin, and an arm M provided with a plate or projection kadapted tosupportthe opposite edge of the coin.

In witness whereof I hereunto set my hand in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN A. WVILLIAMS.

Witnesses:

GEORGE W.SHERMAN EDGAR E. SOH-IFF. 

